Move for health in Punakha

More than 150 people from different walk of life participated in the “Move For health” campaign organized by the   Punakha Dzongkhag administration in collaboration with the health sector on 11^th October. The walk started from Metsina Town and ended at the Khururthang bus terminal. Prior to starting the walk, the DHO of Punakha hospital gave an introductory talk followed by the Dasho Dzongda on the rationale of the campaign. He emphasized on the need of such walk for the eradication and prevention of myriad non-communicable diseases. He informed the people that this kind of walk will improve the health and keep them happy. He said, another reason of this kind of walk was to raise fund for the health sector.

The move for health campaign was started by the former health and education minister, Lyonpo Sangay Ngidup in 2002 to give awareness on health and raise fun for the Bhutan Health Trust Fund.  According to the report prepared by BHTF (Bhutan Health Trust Fund), the Move for Health phase I from Thimphu to Tashigang had collected USD 2 million in a two week walk. Since then, the programme was suspended for unknown reason until 2013.The present government after the assumption of the office in 2013 resurrected the programme. After the letter released from the ministry of health on the recommencement of the programme much after a decade the programme has become an annual event.

The 8 kilometer- walk from Metsina to Punakha started at quarter past nine and ended at 11 am.

16 students from CNR represented the college and presented a donated amount of Nu 17200 to the Dzongda. The students, with due permission from the higher authority collected money from the taxi plying on the Metsina-Khuruthang road. Two groups of students each collecting from the vehicle coming from two directions earned a handsome sum of money.

Mr. Dorji Bum of Sustainable Development department on an interview said that inspite

of some difficulties in convincing the drivers and passenger to donate, good amount of money was collected. Ugyen Kelang further added that through this small action, he was contributing something to the nation.Jigme Choden and Tshering Wangmo after their tireless efforts to sing the lines, move for health: we, we move for health, said that despite knowing two lines of the song, they could convince the vehicle owners and passenger in donating some amounts.

“I am just a student and don’t have money but I am happy that I could actively participate in collecting good amount”, said Sangay Chhopel.

The program the ended at 12:30 pm with the conclusion speech by Dzongda, DHO and the doctor of Punakha. The conclusion section was joined by the students from Ugyen Academy.Suja and desi were also served for all the participants.

The different stakeholders and the interested donors presented the fund to the dzongda at the end of the programme. The total collected amount from different sources amounted to Nu four lakh twenty thousand. (0.421 million)